Scaling and root planing is a treatment that helps eliminate gum disease from your smile. So, if you experience red, swollen, or bleeding gums, or if you experience constant bad breath, then it’s important to call Mark D. Berard, DDS at 616-392-2853 and schedule an appointment with your dentist, Dr. Mark Berard, as soon as possible.
To help you know more about this treatment that can restore your oral health after gum disease has attacked your smile, our dental team is happy to provide the following information for you:
The reasons for treatment
Scaling and root planing is a successful treatment that involves deeply cleaning the pockets of your smile. When you are a victim of gum disease, the plaque on your teeth irritates your gums and makes them shrivel and move away from the teeth, exposing the roots. This creates pockets between your teeth and gums and if they are not cleaned on a regular basis, bacteria and harmful particles will gather there, destroying your teeth, gums, and underlying bone. As time passes, the bone will begin to deteriorate and your teeth will eventually fall out of your mouth.
The process of scaling and root planing
The process of scaling and root planing first begins with the scaling section. Your dentist will start by deeply cleaning above and below your gumline. This will remove the harmful substances that reside on the surfaces of your teeth as well as in the pockets of your smile. Your dentist will then start root planing. This section will involve your dentist smoothing out the surfaces of your tooth roots so the gums can reattach themselves. While he does so, Dr. Mark Berard will insert medication into the pocket to promote healing.
Aftercare tips
The recovery process is very important. When your appointment is over, your dentist will prescribe a medication or oral rinse to you to help with any pain or sensitivity you might experience. Dr. Mark Berard might also go over some instructions to help you refrain from infecting the pockets of your mouth. If this is the case, please follow those instructions.
Call us today at 616-392-2853 if you have any questions about scaling and root planing in Holland, Michigan, or if you would like to know more about this treatment. We are here to help you in any way we can, even if it’s just by answering your questions. We look forward to talking with you!